LSU must win to maintain its slim hope of winning the Southeastern Conference Western Division and to otherwise solidify its credentials for a major, perhaps BCS, bowl game. Mississippi is trying to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2009 in coach Hugh Freeze's first season.

KEY MATCHUP

Ole Miss sophomore QB Bo Wallace against LSU's high-pressure pass defense. Wallace ranks fifth in the SEC and 49th nationally in total offense, accounting for 250.8 yards per game. He set career highs with 31 completions and 403 yards passing in a 27-26 loss to Vanderbilt last week. LSU ranks first in the SEC in yards passing allowed at 165.7 to go with 26 sacks and 14 interceptions.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mississippi: LB Denzel Nkemdiche averages 1.15 tackles for losses per game, second most by any freshman in the country and the most by any freshman in the SEC.

LSU: WR Jarvis Landry set career highs for receptions with nine and yards receiving with 109 against Mississippi State last week. He also caught a 19-yard touchdown pass.

FACTS & FIGURES

While this is one of the oldest rivalries in college football, dating back to 1894, the annual matchup was spiced up in 2008, with the winner getting the Magnolia Bowl trophy. Each team has won the trophy twice. ... LSU will be the fourth ranked opponent Ole Miss has played this season. The Rebels have lost against the previous three. ... Ole Miss is 58-140-2 all-time vs. ranked teams, with its last win over a Top 25 team being a 21-7 triumph over No. 21 Oklahoma State in the 2010 Cotton Bowl. ... LSU has gone 46 straight offensive possessions without a turnover, a streak that dates back to the second quarter against South Carolina on Oct. 13. ... LSU QB Zach Mettenberger has thrown 110 straight passes without an interception and he's now completed 155 of 263 passes for 1,990 yards and 10 TDs against four interceptions. ... Now in his eighth season at LSU, Les Miles needs one victory to reach 84 and pull ahead of Bernie Moore for second all-time as Tigers head coach. Moore coached 13 seasons (1935-47). Charles McClendon holds the LSU record with 137 victories in 18 years (1962-79). ... LSU is 37-24-1 vs. Ole Miss in Baton Rouge.